Apparatus for uncurling selvedge

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for removing a curl from fabric selvedge includes uncurling means having a substantially conical outer surface portion making substantially line contact with the selvedge for uncurling the selvedge at a controlled rate.

United States Patent Ryan APPARATUS FOR UNCURLING SELVEDGE Richard A. Ryan, Eddington, Pa.

Butterworth Manufacturing Company, Inc., Bethayres, Pa.

Filed: Jan. 22, 1974 Appl. No.2 435,431

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 206,647, Dec. 10, 1971, abandoned.

Inventor:

Assignee:

U.S. C1. 26/54; 26/DIG. 1; 26/65; 38/143 Int. Cl. D06c 3/06 Field of Search 26/DIG. l, 63, 65, 66, 26/67; 38/143 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 17 7/1881 McCoIl 26/63 X Aug. 19, 1975 3,414,991 12/1968 Oelkers et a1 38/143 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,583,492 10/1969 France 38/143 369 1884 United Kingdom I t 26/63 9,765 1911 United Kingdom 26/63 162,028 4/1921 United Kingdom 26/65 761,656 11/1956 United Kingdom... 26/DIG. 1 956,505 4/1964 United Kingdom 26/DIG. 1

Primary Examiner-Robert R. Mackey Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Meyer, Tilberry & Body 5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for removing a curl from fabric selvedge includes uncurling means having a substantially conical outer surface portion making substantially line contact with the selvedge for uncurling the selvedge at a controlled rate.

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RICHARD A. RYAN BY Mega, 7M & Bad;

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RICHAR RYAN BY Maya, 744m 8 Bod RNEYS ATTO APPARATUS FOR UNCURLING SELVEDGE This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 206,647 filed Dec. 10. 1971, and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application pertains to the art of processing fabric and more particularly to uncurling fabric selvedge. The invention is particularly applicable to uncurling knitted or woven fabric selvedge and will be described with particular reference thereto, although it will be ap preciated that the invention may also be used for uncurling edges of other material.

Knitted and woven fabric usually has curled selvedge which must be flattened before the fabric can undergo further processing. It is desirable that the selvedge be uncurled and held until it is passed through nip rolls, pinned on a frame or rolled into a bolt.

Previous apparatus for uncurling selvedge included rotating cylindrical brushes acting upon the selvedge as the fabric moved in a longitudinal direction. The diam eter of the curled portion of the selvedge varies as it is uncurled. A cylindrical brush has a constant surface velocity along its length so that uncurling action proceeds in an uncontrolled manner. Cylindrical brushes also distort the fabric and cause the formation of wrinkles.

Brushes similar to those used on a floor polisher or the like have also been used for uncurling fabric selvedge. Such brushes are usually positioned for rotation on an axis inclined slightly to the vertical so that it cannot make a full 360 contact with the fabric as this would pull the fabric from a holding device or put the curl back in the selvedge. Therefore, such a brush is commonly positioned so that it makes contact with the selvedge only along a short arcuate line. Uncurling action produced by such a brush is uneven and may create distortions in the fabric.

SUMMARY An apparatus for uncurling fabric selvedge includes support means over which fabric passes in a longitudinal direction. Uncurling means positioned above the support means includes a conical outer surface portion which acts against the selvedge to reduce the curl diameter at a controlled rate.

In accordance with one arrangement, the uncurling means includes a small diameter end portion and a large diameter end portion, and the small diameter end portion contacts the selvedge ahead of the large diameter end portion. This provides controlled progressive opening of the selvedge with little tension. The surface speed of the uncurling means is very low at its small diameter end portion and progressively increases toward the large diameter end portion to control uncurling of the selvedge in an optimum manner.

In a preferred arrangement, the conical surface portion of the uncurling means makes line contact with the selvedge along a line which intersects the longitudinal edge of the selvedge at an included acute angle. This angle is preferably between 30 and 50.

The uncurling means has a longitudinal axis and the conical outer surface portion thereof diverges from the longitudinal axis at an angle between and 45. This provides optimum controlled progressive uncurling of the selvedge. The exact angle of taper depends upon the type of fabric being processed. its speed and the size of the uncurling means.

It is a principle object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for uncurling fabric selvedge.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which uncurls fabric selvedge in a controlled progressive manner.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for uncurling fabric selvedge in such a manner that distortions in the fabric are minimized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention may take form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, preferred embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a fabric selvedge uncurling apparatus having the improvements of the present invention incorporated therein;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevational view looking generally in the direction of arrows 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view looking generally in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevational view looking generally in the direction of arrows 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration showing one portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partial top plan view showing the improvement of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration showing another arrangement in which the improvement of the present invention may be used;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view looking generally in the direction of arrows 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional elevational view looking generally in the direction of arrows 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view showing another arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional elevational view looking generally in the direction of arrows lI-ll of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view showing another arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional elevational view looking generally in the direction of arrows l3l3 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view showing another arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional elevational view looking generally in the direction of arrows 15-15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of another arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a crosssectional elevational view looking generally in the direction of arrows 17-17 of FIG. 16; and

FIG. 18 is a cross sectional elevational view looking generally in the direction of arrows l8l8 of FIG. 16.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same, FIG. 1 shows an apparatus A for uncurling fabric selvedge. Apparatus A includes a substantially horizontal support B over which elongated fabric C travels in a longitudinal direction indicated by arrow 12. Fabric C may move over support B from a needle bar D of a knitting or weaving machine, or from a device through which fabric C has previously been subjected to a cer tain treatment. Fabric C moves across support B in the direction of arrow 12 to another device E which may be in the form of nip rolls or a coiling device.

Fabric C has longitudinal selvedges 14 which curl up toward the longitudinal center of fabric C. It is desirable to uncurl or flatten curled selvedges 14 before fabric C is further processed through device E.

In accordance with one arrangement, a pair of uncurling devices F are positioned above support B adjacent selvedges 14. Each uncurling unit F includes a motor 16 attached to a support 18 and having an output shaft 20. Motors 16 may be equipped with independently variable speed control means such as rheostat means or the like 17, devices well known to those skilled in the electric motor art. Uncurling means G for contacting fabric C to flatten curled selvedges 14 is mounted for rotation with each of shafts 20. Each uncurling means G includes a substantially conical outer surface portion 22. The outer peripheral surface of uncurling means G may have the characteristics of brush bristles or may be smooth depending upon the type of fabric being processed. It will be recognized that varying surface characteristics may be provided on uncurling means G to suit any particular application.

Each output shaft 20 coincidal with the longitudinal axis of uncurling means G and is inclined to the horizontal by means of adjustable support 18 so that periphery 22 makes substantially line contact with fabric C along a line 26 as shown in FIG. 6. Adjustable support 18 is shown in the drawings as a rod which may be rotatably and slidably supported by a collar bracket contained within a housing 19 and locked to said collar bracket by a set screw, (not shown) all in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art. Additionally, the adjustable support 18 may be spring biased to urge uncurling means G into pressure contact with the selvedge 14, said spring biasing means also being well understood by those skilled in this art. Each uncurling means G includes a small diameter end portion 28 and a large diameter end portion 30. Outer peripheral surface 22 diverges relative to the longitudinal axis of uncurling means G from small diameter end portion 28 toward large diameter end portion 30 at an angle between 10 and 45. It will be recognized that this angle depends upon the type of fabric being processed, its speed travel in the direction of arrow 12 over support B and the size of uncurling means G. The diameter and length of uncurling means G is variable depending upon the speed of fabric C and the length of selvedge 14 which must be uncurled. The type of equipment E to which fabric C is moving is also a factor in determining the diameter and length of uncurling means G.

In a preferred arrangement, line 26 along which uncurling means G contacts fabric C makes an included acute angle 32 of between 10 and 50 with selvedge 14. This fabric entry angle is the same as angle 34 between line 26 and edge 36 of fabric C. This angle will depend upon the type of fabric being treated, its speed over support D and the surface characteristics of uncurling means G.

Each uncurling means G is rotated by motors 16 in a direction to impart forces acting generally in the direction of arrows H of Fig. I. It will be recognized that these forces H act generally rearward of the longitudinal direction of movement of fabric C. More specifically, these forces act generally in a direction perpendicular to line 26 along which uncurling means G contacts fabric C. Therefore, the included angle between the direction of forces H and selvedge 14 or fabric edges 36 will be an acute angle between 10 and 50.

In the arrangement shown, small diameter end portions 28 first contact curled selvedges 14 to impart an uncurling action at a predetermined rate proportional to the diameter of small diameter end portion 28. Since the outer peripheral surface of uncurling means G progressively increases toward large diameter end portion 30, the peripheral speed also increases so that uncurling proceeds at a progressive rate from curled selvedge 14 to longitudinal edges 36. This controlled progressive uncurling minimizes fabric distortions and prevents wrinkles therein. The speed at which uncurling means G are rotated by motors 16 depends upon the speed of fabric C over support B in the direction of arrow 12, as well as upon the type of fabric being processed and the surface characteristics of uncurling means G.

In one arrangement, endless belts 38 having wire pickers 40 thereon are driven around rollers 42 adjacent the side edges of support B. Uncurling means G extends over belts 38 and pickers 40 so that as selvedge 14 is uncurled it is impaled upon pickers 40 and held in a flattened condition. Belts 38 are driven in the direction of arrow 12 or are simply pulled along with fabric C.

In a preferred arrangement, support B includes support portions 50 located beneath uncurling means G which are downwardly yieldable. Support portions 50 have vertically extending rods 52 secured thereto extending through cylindrical collars 54 on a support member 56. Coil springs 58 surround rods 52 between support portions 50 and support 56 for normally biasing support portions 50 upwardly. Nuts 60 threaded onto the lower ends of rods 52 bear against the bottoms of collars 54 to adjustably maintain support portions 50 at their desired elevation. Support portions 50 are then downwardly yieldable against the force of springs 58 when uncurling means G is acting against fabric C. This will help to maintain a substantially constant pressure between uncurling means G and fabric C when compared to an arrangement wherein support B is substantially rigid and cannot yield downwardly.

In accordance with another arrangement, as where fabric C is being passed through nip rolls 64 in FIG. 7, uncurling means G is also positioned for making contact with fabric C along a line 26 which intersects selvedge 14 at an included angle 32 of between 10 and 50. However, in this arrangement, uncurling means G is positioned so that large diameter end portion 30 contacts selvedge 14 before small diameter end portion 28. This is desirable so that small diameter end portion 28 can be placed very close between the nip of rolls 64 to hold curled selvedge l4 flat as it is grabbed between rolls 64. The taper of outer peripheral surface portion 22 is the same as that described with reference to FIGS. l6. In the arrangement described with reference to FIGS. 79, uncurling means G is also rotated in a direction for imparting forces to fabric C acting generally rearward of the direction of movement of fabric C.

In accordance with another arrangement, the outer peripheral surface of uncurling means G may have alternating different surface characteristics along its length. For example, portion 68 of uncurling means G in FIG. 10 has brush bristle characteristics while portions 70 may be substantially smoother and of polished wood or of plastic. The provision of such alternating surface characteristics on uncurling means G makes it possible to control the forces imparted to curled selvedge 14 in its different stages of being uncurled. Thus, the uncurling forces applied to curled selvedge 14 may be progressively controlled and varied in order to achieve optimum conditions. In another arrangement, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, it is possible to provide uncurling means G with spaced-apart truncated conical discs 68 by omitting portions 70 of FIG. 10.

In accordance with another arrangement, uncurling means G of FIG. 14 has a conical surface 74 which is spirally coiled upon shaft in the form of a screw thread. This arrangement provides a controlled progressive uncurling action as uncurling means G rotates against curled selvedge 14. If desired, the spaces between the spiral 74 may be filled with another spiral of a material presenting different surface characteristics from spiral portion 74.

In accordance with another arrangement, as shown in FIGS. l6l8, uncurling means G has a conical outer surface portion 22 and a cylindrical surface portion 80 located nearest nip rolls 64. Cylindrical portion 80 may extend outwardly beyond edge 36 of fabric C for positively holding the uncurled selvedge in a flattened condition while conical surface portion 22 performs substantially all of the uncurling action.

Although the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, it will be recognized that obvious alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification. The present invention includes all such equivalent alterations and modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for removing curls from opposite longitudinal curled selvedges of a fabric comprising: support means for supporting elongated fabric moving as a continuous strip in a longitudinal direction and having curled selvedges and longitudinal edges along said selvedges;

a pair of uncurling members, said uncurling members being positioned above said support means adjacent said selvedges, said uncurling members having substantially conical outer surface portions, said substantially conical outer surface portions having free small diameter ends and driven large diameter ends, each of said conical outer surface portions making line contact with one of said selvedges along lines intersecting said longitudinal selvedges at included acute angles, but with substantially no contact with the fabric between selvedges;

independent drive means for rotating said uncurling members in a direction for applying uncurling forces to said selvedges in directions rearwardly of said longitudinal direction of movement of said fabric without appreciably stretching the body of said fabric between selvedges by said uncurling means;

and adjustment means for adjusting the included angles between the lines of contact of the uncurling members on the fabric and said longitudinal edges of said fabric.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each said uncurling member is formed of brush bristles.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each said uncurling member has a longitudinal axis and said conical surface portion thereof diverges from said longitudinal axis at an angle between 10 and 20.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein each said support means is substantially horizontally positioned in a support position, and yieldable means holding a portion of said support means in said support position locally beneath said uncurling member only along the path of travel of the corresponding selvedge, whereby said portion of said support means is downwardly moveable under forces imparted thereto by said curling member.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein each said conical surface portion makes line contact with the corresponding selvedge along a line intersecting the longitudinal edge thereof at an included angle between 10 and 15.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein each said uncurling member is positioned for contacting the corresponding selvedge with said small diameter end portion before said large diameter end portion.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein each said conical surface portion diverges from the corresponding longitudinal axis at an angle between 10 and 45.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein each said conical outer surface portion has alternating different surface characteristics along the length thereof.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein each said conical surface portion includes a plurality of spaced-apart substantially truncated conical discs.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein each said conical surface portion is a spiral strip lying on the surface of a cone.

1 1. Apparatus for simultaneously removing curl from opposite fabric selvedges comprising:

support means for supporting elongated fabric moving in a longitudinal direction as a continuous strip and having curled selvedges and a longitudinal edge along each selvedge,

means yieldingly supporting portions of said support means, a pair of uncurling means positioned above said yieldable support portions of said support means, each uncurling means being further positioned above a selvedge and having substantially conical outer surface portions in substantially line contact with said selvedge but with substantially no contact with fabric inwardly of said selvedge, said uncurling means having a large diameter fixed end portion and a small diameter free end portion posi tioned inward of said large diameter end portion,

a pair of independent drive means for rotating said uncurling means in directions for applying uncurling forces to said selvedges in directions rearwardly of said longitudinal direction of movement of said fabric and at acute angles to the longitudinal direction movement of said selvedges,

and a pair of adjustment means for independently ad justing the included angles between the lines of contact of said uncurling means on the fabric and said longitudinal edges of said fabric.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the speeds of said independent drive means are independently variable. 

1. Apparatus for removing curls from opposite longitudinal curled selvedges of a fabric comprising: support means for supporting elongated fabric moving as a continuous strip in a longitudinal direction and having curled selvedges and longitudinal edges along said selvedges; a pair of uncurling members, said uncurling members being positioned above said support means adjacent said selvedges, said uncurling members having substantially conical outer surface portions, said substantially conical outer surface portions having free small diameter ends and driven large diameter ends, each of said conical outer surface portions making line contact with one of said selvedges along lines intersecting said longitudinal selvedges at included acute angles, but with substantially no contact with the fabric between selvedges; independent drive means for rotating said uncurling members in a direction for applying uncurling forces to said selvedges in directions rearwardly of said longitudinal direction of movement of said fabric without appreciably stretching the body of said fabric between selvedges by said uncurling means; and adjustment means for adjusting the included angles between the lines of contact of the uncurling members on the fabric and said longitudinal edges of said fabric.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein each said uncurling member is formed of brush bristles.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein each said uncurling member has a longitudinal axis and said conical surface portion thereof diverges from said longitudinal axis at an angle between 10* and 20*.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein each said support means is substantially horizontally positioned in a support position, and yieldable means holding a portion of said support means in said support position locally beneath said uncurling member only along the path of travel of the corresponding selvedge, whereby said portion of said support means is downwardly moveable under forces imparted thereto by said curling member.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein each said conical surface portion makes line contact with the corresponding selvedge along a line intersecting the longitudinal edge thereof at an included angle between 10* and 15*.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein each said uncurling member is positioned for contacting the corresponding selvedge with said small diameter end portion before said large diameter end portion.
 7. The device of claim 5, wherein each said conical surface portion diverges from the corresponding longitudinal axis at an angle between 10* and 45*.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein each said conical outer surface portion has alternating different surface characteristics along the length thereof.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein each said conical surface portion includes a plurality of spaced-apart substantially truncated conical discs.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein each said conical surface portion is a spiral strip lying on the surface of a cone.
 11. Apparatus for simultaneously removing curl from opposite fabric selvedges comprising: support means for supporting elongated fabric moving in a longitudinal direction as a continuous strip and having curled selvedges and a longitudinal edge along each selvedge, means yieldingly supporting portions of said support means, a pair of uncurling means positioned above said yieldable support portions of said support means, each uncurling means beinG further positioned above a selvedge and having substantially conical outer surface portions in substantially line contact with said selvedge but with substantially no contact with fabric inwardly of said selvedge, said uncurling means having a large diameter fixed end portion and a small diameter free end portion positioned inward of said large diameter end portion, a pair of independent drive means for rotating said uncurling means in directions for applying uncurling forces to said selvedges in directions rearwardly of said longitudinal direction of movement of said fabric and at acute angles to the longitudinal direction movement of said selvedges, and a pair of adjustment means for independently adjusting the included angles between the lines of contact of said uncurling means on the fabric and said longitudinal edges of said fabric.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the speeds of said independent drive means are independently variable. 